Kinsey 2004

Academy Award-winner Bill Condon ("Gods and Monsters," "Chicago") explores the life of the pioneer of human sexuality research, Alfred Kinsey (Neeson). Spanning six decades from his childhood in the early 1900s to his death in 1956, the film turns the microscope on the man whose landmark studies on the sexual behaviors of the common man rocked a nation. The interviewer of tens of thousands, Kinsey subjected his own life and that of his researchers to the same type of analysis that produced his 1948 best-selling book "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male." But while the Kinsey team's focus was predominantly outward, perhaps what they learned about themselves was as great as that which they taught their country. (read more)

In the 1940s and 50s, zoologist Alfred Kinsey explored the controversial subject of human sexuality, and published his findings, in two volumes, one for men and one for women, both of which became international bestsellers, and made him, for a time, one of the most famous people in the world. Kinsey, as played here by...

By turns hilarious and disturbing, this is my favorite biopic of the year. Liam Neeson and Laura Linney are instantly endearing as the Kinseys, but John Lithgow steals every scene he's in as Kinsey's bitter, bullying father. A great double feature with Closer, but save this one for last if you want to leave happy.

In a world where talking frankly and openly about sex is still frowned upon by the majority, revisiting the life and work of biologist Alfred Kinsey was a wise decision by director Condon. Unfortunately, while I did come away a bit more educated, and while there were many amusing bits about the sexual nature of humans, the...